The nice lunch by the harbor never happened. As Evan and Celia were leaving the hotel, they ran into Evan’s parents and Mitchell and Bettina. Lucy was thrilled, since they were on their way to lunch, as well, and she suggested they eat together before they gathered on the terrace for the very informal rehearsal.It amused Celia that there would even be an actual rehearsal of the ceremony since it wasn’t a big affair and the bride and groom only had two attendants each. Still, it was evidently important to keep up appearances because they were going all out with a full-blown rehearsal and a dinner and party afterward.Bettina acted less than thrilled that Celia and Evan would be joining them for lunch. Mitchell was visibly uncomfortable. When they were seated, as luck would have it, Evan and Celia were placed across the table from Bettina and Mitchell while Lucy and Marshall sat on the ends.As a result, Celia was treated to Bettina’s malevolent stare. The woman wasn’t even subtle abo
His father’s voice boomed in his ears and Evan jumped, sending Celia away from him for a brief moment.Marshall stood there expectantly. “Going to let me cut in?”Evan slipped Celia’s hand into his father’s. “Of course. Just don’t keep her for long.”Marshall chuckled as he spirited Celia away. “One dance won’t kill you, son.”Evan watched his dad whirl Celia across the floor. In a word, she was magnificent. She laughed at something he said and her smile lit up the entire room. She sparkled.“Quite a woman,” Mitchell drawled.Evan stiffened and turned to see his brother standing there, drink in hand.“Where’s the bride-to-be?” Evan asked. “Didn’t figure she’d let you out of her sight until the vows are spoken.”Mitchell shrugged. “She’s over with Mom, talking about the honeymoon arrangements.” He looked again at Celia and their father. “You’re marrying her for real?” “Is there some reason I shouldn’t?” Evan asked mildly.“Doesn’t seem your type.”Evan regarded his brother with curiosi
Celia lay underneath Evan’s big body. Every part of her was covered by him. His heat penetrated her, seeped into her flesh and whispered seductively through her veins. She wanted him. God, she wanted this man. Her need for him frightened and exhilarated her in equal parts. She knew she shouldn’t—that she mustn’t—and yet she also knew she wouldn’t tell him no.There would be no recriminations later. There would be no regret. She knew the potential pitfalls of making love with Evan, and she would face them with full acceptance.“What are you thinking?” he asked.She raised her gaze to meet his. He was propped on his arms, his body still flush with hers and their noses were mere inches apart.His eyes were warm with desire, liquid with want, and her heart fluttered in response.His voice was so tender and understanding. He stared down at her like she was the only woman he’d ever made love to. A mixture of awe and wonder that humbled her. “I was thinking we shouldn’t do this,” she admit
Waking in bed with Evan didn’t bring about the immediate what-the-hell-have-I-done feeling she would have thought. No, when her eyes opened, she registered a fantastic male body wrapped around hers, and instead of shoving him over and wailing on about how dumb she was, she snuggled deeper into his embrace and soaked up every minute of the lazy morning. “Good morning,” Evan murmured against her temple. “Mmm.”He chuckled softly and rolled away for a moment.“Damn.”“I don’t like that damn,” she grumbled. “Bad things are going to happen after that word.”He sighed in regret. “Sorry. Yeah, we have to get up.”“What time is it?”“Noon.”Her eyes popped open and she scrambled up to look over his body at the clock.“Noon? I’ve never slept until noon in my life!”He grinned and tugged her down onto his chest. “Glad I could contribute to your downfall then.”“So arrogant,” she said. “Now let me go, otherwise I’ll look like a bag lady for your brother’s wedding.”“I like bag ladies.”She snor
Evan tucked his hand into his pocket to touch the diamond engagement ring Celia had given back to him the night before. His finger ran over the edges, took it out and let it lay in his palm to catch the light. For a long while, he stared down at it before closing his hand over it. As his driver pulled to the curb in front of Maddox Communications, he shoved the ring back into his pocket.Celia wouldn’t be expecting him. Hell, he wasn’t expecting him. To be here, that is. He was supposed to have flown back to Seattle. He had any number of issues to deal with including talking to his team about Noah Hart. They needed to come big with an offer, and they needed to make sure any offer they made was tied up neatly with a big bow.Yet, here he was, getting out at Celia’s building because he wanted to see her again. And business had nothing to do with it.He instructed his driver to find suitable parking and to swing back around when he phoned to say he was ready. Then he headed into the sta
Celia entered her office with a heightened sense of anticipation. She already knew she’d be clock watching until it was quitting time and then she’d race home so she could change and look her best for her naughty escape to Evan’s. Her mouth curved into a naughty smile to match the naughtiness of her and Evan’s plan. It was wicked, forbidden, and she was so turned on that she was ready to fidget right out of her shoes.With a sigh, she sank into her chair behind her desk, kicked off her shoes and logged on to catch up on e-mail. She hadn’t planned to go out for lunch at all and had, in fact, brought food from home, planning to eat at her desk. After missing Friday, she’d spent the morning getting a report from Jason on her client meetings he covered and then she’d gone through messages.She groaned as her in-box stacked up with e-mail after e-mail. She started at the bottom and worked up, deleting several after cursory glances. Those requiring a lengthy response she flagged to respond
Lord, but she did lose all her brain cells when it came to this man. If she wasn’t careful, she’d throw away all her independence and start greeting him at the door every evening, wearing a kitchen apron with oven mitts and a piping-hot casserole dish. Oddly but the image wasn’t all that distasteful. For the first few seconds anyway. She laughed outright and it had the effect of someone popping her thought bubble with a sharp pin.The driver looked up in the rearview mirror, and she valiantly tried to look back with a straight face. If he only knew the absurd thoughts she was processing.If she was truly the naughty girl of her fantasies, she would have ridden over with only a trench coat covering her sexy lingerie. Then when she walked into Evan’s room, she could discard the coat and watch his reaction.The idea certainly had merit, and if she ever received another invitation such as tonight, she’d give it serious consideration.A few minutes later, the driver pulled up to the sumpt
Sweat beaded his brow. His eyes were narrow slits, and he never took his gaze from hers. He urged her closer so he could cup her breasts. They filled both palms and he rubbed the pad of his thumb over the painfully erect nubs.“I can’t hold on,” she whispered.“Then let’s go together,” he urged.His hands left her breasts and he gripped her hips, lifting her and pulling her down in time with his upward thrusts. The burn spread. Tension mounted. She wound tighter and tighter until it was all she could do to hang on. She threw her head back, her mouth open in an endless cry of agony. The sweetest, most breathtaking agony of her life.His hands left her hips to tangle in her hair. He rose up, pulling her harshly to meet his kiss. Frantically, his hands moved up and down her back, into her hair, through her hair, over her face as if he couldn’t get enough and wanted to memorize every feature.And then it was as if the world went silent. The wave rolled, crashed and then broke into a mill